The Hauraki Gulf, which lies between Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, is filled with islands that are easily accessible from Auckland and make for excellent day trips. The most popular islands in the gulf include: Waiheke, Rangitoto, Rotoroa and Tiritiri Matangi. Each of the these islands has its own personality and offers it's visitors a unique experience. They have beautiful beaches, adventure excursions, walking trails, lots of scenic views and much more. Below is a quick guides to main islands of interest in this region.

Nothing is more challenging than trying to squeeze the essence of a town into a one day trip. Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand, is not excessively large when compared to other metropolitan cities. The challenge with Auckland is its public transportation system, it's very limited. So there's gonna be a fair amount of walking involved with this itinerary. But that shouldn't be a problem, since you've must likely came to New Zealand for the hiking.

Lace up your walking shoes and lets start exploring.

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and has the most to offer in terms of cuisine, music, art and culture. It's perched on a narrow isthmus between two harbours and its sub-tropical climate provides relatively pleasant year round weather. Auckland is also home to the world's largest Polynesian population. This is a great city to visit and base yourself for a couple of days. Below is a list of the top attractions and popular day trips you have access to from this great city.